Practice policy on the use of Email

We take our duty to protect your personal information and confidentiality seriously. We are committed to taking all reasonable measures to ensure the confidentiality and security of personal data for which we are responsible, whether computerised or on paper.

Legislation such as the Data Protection Act (1998) and the NHS Confidentiality Code of Practice (2003) provide a framework to protect personal information no matter how trivial it may seem to the patient. Most email addresses are not considered secure enough for patient identifiable information and are vulnerable to unauthorised access.

In order to protect your privacy, the Practice has adopted the citywide policy not to use email to communicate with patients. Aside from the confidentiality and security issues, there are also considerations such as ensuring accounts are monitored, auditable and cannot be accessed outside the surgery.

The Surgery strives to be progressive when embracing new forms of communication with patients. We were one of the first surgeries in Sheffield to adopt online ordering of prescriptions and ‘electronic prescriptions’. Feel free to ask at the surgery if you would like more information about these. We plan to keep abreast of developments towards improving communication with patients and hope to move with the times, so feel free to provide your email address next time you visit the surgery.